Last updated: 3 April, 2026
I’m Ramon Stoppelenburg — a writer, translator, and entrepreneur based in Phnom Penh.
This page is a snapshot of what I’m focused on right now.
Where I am
Phnom Penh — my base since 2010.
Current focus
Most of my time is currently going into the Phnom Penh Passport, a city discount card. I’m building out distribution through hotels, guesthouses, and hostels — less planning, more execution. Thankfully, the media has picked it up too.
Alongside that, I continue working on my books at a steady pace. No rush.
Work
I write and translate for publications including de Volkskrant and NRC. I also work as an editor and language consultant for international media and companies.
My work sits somewhere between journalism, literature, and practical language — depending on the project and the deadline.
In the background, I’m working on several books:
- Als het vuur gedoofd is (When the Fire Dies) — a Dutch novel about identity and escape
- The Hostel on the Other Side of the World — a Dutch novel about digital identity and performance
- Always Almost There — a memoir about chasing “elsewhere” all the time
- The Gorin Case — an English literary novel structured across dual timelines, blending psychological precision with the slow-burn tension of a spy thriller (also written as an 8-episode television series set in modern day Eastern Europe)
- Eat Out, Lose Fat — building a healthier relationship with food
- The Phnom Penh Survival Guide — to be read “before you ruin your life”
- Undertow — limited series, 4 episode Isle of Man drama (written for television)
- Flagged — limited series, 8 episode Australian/Thai drama (written for television)
Projects
- Expedition Kilimanjaro — my tour company since 2008
- Lord Penh — events guide and marketing platform in Phnom Penh
- Phnom Penh Passport — city discovery booklet with discounts, valid for 7 days
Advisory
I work with small and medium-sized businesses in various countries, helping simplify operations, sharpen positioning, and improve how things actually run. No slide decks, just what works.
Pets
Fifty Shady (2014) and Chickpea (2025).
On my radar
Palawan — water, quiet, reset.
